Railroad tie



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,681,115

E. E. HENDRICKSON ET AL RAILROAD TIE Filed March 1928 INVENTORS ATTO R N EY Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES ELIAS E; nEnnitrcxsou, or

WA'IERVLIET, E YORK, AND GEORGE CHESTER DIXON, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

RAILROAD TIE.

Application filed March 2, 1928. Serial No. 258,610.

This invention relates to railroad ties and more particularly to combination steel and wooden ties. Y

It is well known that theforests from which the lumber is obtained formaking Wooden railroad tiesare being rapidly depleted and that everything is being doneto conserve them. It is also well known that Wooden ties are desirable for many reasons. Therefore a primary object of this invention is to produce a tiewhich While having the advantages of a wooden tie requires only a minimum amount of wood in its construction.

Another object of the. invention is .to so construct such a tie that it will afford facilities, for the quick and easy changing of the wooden blocks used for spiking the rails to the tie; in which theamount of ballast necessary to be removed. when changing a'tie is materially reduced; and to. provide for the use of electric signalling devices without necessitating the use .of special insulation.

Still another object is to construct a tie of this character in which the castings em ployed for securing the wooden blocks in position are interchangeable thereby facilitating their application.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of a wide range of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention, there being shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, with parts broken out and in section, of one-half of a tie constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof with one of the castings broken out and in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of one-half of the base plate constituting a part of this invention;

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the tie, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, with a rail shown thereon in dot-and-dash.

In the embodiment illustrated a base plate 1 is shown constructed of suitable metal, preferably steel, and which is of a length of the usual railroad cross tie. Extending longitudinally of this base plate on the upper face thereof, are a plurality of ribs 2,

3 and 4:, here shown alined and spaced suitable distances apart for a purpose presently to be described. It is to be understood that the ribs 2 and 3 are formed at each end of the tie plate 1 whilethe rib 4 is located on the body portion of the plate between the ends. v

At each'end of the plate 1 on opposite side edges? thereof are transversely extending open bolt receiving. slots arranged in pairs, two pairs on each edge, and numbered 5 and 6 on one side and 5 and 6 on the other. The rib 3 which is arranged between the pairs of slots5 and 6', and 5 and 6?, is designed to enter a longitudinally extending groove 11 formed in the lower'faceor bottom of the block 10 to which vtherail R is spiked. Formed in the base plate 1 on opposite sides of the rib 3 are a plurality of drain apertures 7 for carrying ofl' any moisture which maycollect under the blockllO.

Two end castings 12 and -13are mounted at each end of the base plate 1 and are bolted thereto by bolts 14 insertedin the slots in the side edges of the plate. These castings are exactly alike, one being adapted to secure one end of block 10 and the other the other end as is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. These castings fit between the ends of the ribs 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 respectively, said ribs operating to prevent creeping of the blocks and to strengthen the base plate.

Each of the castings has a flange 15 extending around the top and sides of its inner face which flanges are adapted to fit snugly over the ends of the block 10 and thereby sea curely hold the block in place, the flanges forming seats for the block ends. An upstanding web 16 extendslongitudinally of each casting materially strengthening the casting. said casting forming an abutment for the blocklO. The flanges 15 of the castings have their inner faces tapered or flared to provide for tightening of the block to compensate for wear and to prevent end checking or splitting of the block.

From the above description it will be seen that this combined steel and wood tie includes four steel castings of special design which are bolted to a base plate or casting and are so mounted in relation thereto as to hold two wooden blocks, as 10, to which the rails R may be spiked and which blocks also. provide insulating attaching means for electric signalling devices.

Gil

These steel and wood ties combine strength and long life with economy in construction and meet all the requirements of a first class railroad cross tie.

\Vithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course beundcrstood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

\Ve claim:

1. A railroad tie comprising a base plate having longitudinally spaced upstanding project-ions, rail attaching blocks mounted on said plate, each of said blocks having means for cooperation with one oi said projections to hold the block against movement relatively to said plate, and block holding castings engaged with said projections and bolted to said plate.

A railroad tie comprising a base plate having longitudinally spaced upstanding projections, rail attaching blocks mounted on said plate, each of said blocks having a recess for interlocking engagement with one of said projections to hold the block against movement relatively to said plate, and block holding castings engaged with said projec tions and bolted to said plate.

A railroad tie comprising a base plate having upstanding projections, rail attaching blocks mounted on said plate, each of said blocks having a recess for interlocking engagement with one of said projections to hold the block against movement relatively to said plate, and block holding castings to be located between two of said projections and held against movement in one direction thereby.

4. A railroad tie comprising a base plate having longitudinally extending longitudinally spaced ribs on its upper face, block holding castings each mounted between two of said ribs and bolted to the base plate, said castings having seats facing each other to receive the ends of a block and secure it in operative position.

5. A railroad tie con'iprising a base plate having longitudinally extending longitudinally spaced ribs on its upper face, block holding castings each mounted between two of said ribs and bolted to the base plate, said castings having seats facing each other to receive the ends of a block and secure it in operative position, said castings having upstanding webs to strengthen them.

(i. A railroad tie comprising a base plate, block holding castings mounted in spaced relation on said base plate, said castings having facing flanges forming seats to receive the ends of a block to be held, said flanges having tapered inner faces to insure tight engagement with the block and to prevent wear in the block.

ELIAS E. HENDRICKSON. GEORGE CHESTER DIXON. 

